UNIT-II
SUSTAINABILITY
Core Resource Issues and its ecological impacts. Also, the solution to the
issues.
Resource
Ecological Impact Solution
Issues
Loss of biodiversity (forests are Promoting Joint Forest
hotspots), disruption of the water cycle Management (JFM), which
(reduced evapotranspiration, increased involves local communities in
Deforestation runoff), leading to soil erosion and protection and sustainable
desertification. Forests are critical harvest, and practicing
carbon sinks; their loss contributes agroforestry (integrating trees
directly to climate change. into farming systems).
Advocating for integrated
Depletion of groundwater (non-
watershed management,
renewable in the human timescale),
popularizing traditional water
Water pollution of surface water
harvesting techniques, and
Mismanagement (eutrophication from agricultural runoff,
promoting the 3Rs (Reduce,
industrial discharge), and destruction of
Reuse, Recycle) of water in
aquatic ecosystems.
industries and households.
Rapid transition to Renewable
Energy Sources (RES) (solar,
Reliance on fossil fuels causes severe air
wind, biomass) and
Energy Security pollution (smog, acid rain) and is the
championing energy audits and
and Pollution primary driver of the greenhouse effect
efficiency measures (e.g., using
and global warming.
less energy to achieve the same
result).
Conventional farming leads to soil Promoting organic farming,
Food Security degradation (loss of fertility), crop rotation, and ecological
and Land contamination by pesticides/fertilizers, pest control to maintain soil
Degradation and a loss of agri-biodiversity (reliance health, which ensures long-term
on a few cash crops). food production stability.
Issue connected to Intragenerational Equity (Equity within the Present
Generation)
The poor and marginalized (often in developing nations or specific communities) suffer the most
from resource depletion and environmental degradation (e.g., lack of access to clean water, living
near polluting factories) caused largely by the consumption patterns of the rich.
Issue connected to Intergenerational Equity (Equity between Generations)
The current generation is exploiting finite resources and polluting the environment, diminishing
the resource base available for future generations.
Primary objectives of public awareness and environmental education
Objective Description
To help individuals and groups acquire sensitivity to and
Awareness (Cognitive)
knowledge of the total environment and its allied problems.
To help acquire a basic understanding of the environment, its
Knowledge (Cognitive)
dynamics, human impacts, and the challenges of sustainability.
To help acquire social values, concern, and motivation for
Attitude (Socio-Emotional)
active participation in environmental protection.
To help acquire the skills necessary for identifying, anticipating,
Skills (Behavioral)
and solving environmental problems.
To help individuals and groups develop a sense of responsibility
Participation/Action
and the means to actively engage at all levels to solve resource
(Behavioral)
problems.
Resource-Specific Conservation Methods
Land
Method Description Conservation Benefit
Planting trees, especially Tree roots hold soil, preventing
Afforestation/Reforestation on degraded or barren erosion; improves water
land. infiltration; acts as a carbon sink.
Creates ridges that slow down
Ploughing perpendicular water flow, allowing it to soak into
Contour Ploughing
to the slope of a hill. the soil, thus preventing water
erosion.
Growing different crops Helps maintain or restore soil
Crop Rotation sequentially on the same fertility and structure, reducing
land. the need for chemical fertilizers.
Practices like organic Improves soil health, reduces
Sustainable Agriculture farming, minimal tillage, chemical pollution, and conserves
and precision agriculture. water through efficient irrigation.
Water
Method Description Conservation Benefit
Recharges groundwater tables,
Collecting and storing rainwater for
Rainwater reduces reliance on centralized
immediate use or recharging
Harvesting water sources, and mitigates urban
groundwater aquifers.
flooding.
Using methods like Drip Irrigation Significantly reduces water
Efficient
and Sprinklers instead of flood wastage in agriculture, which is the
Irrigation
irrigation. largest consumer of fresh water.
Treating sewage and industrial
Wastewater Reduces the strain on fresh water
effluents to tertiary levels for non-
Treatment & bodies and prevents water
potable uses (e.g., industrial
Reuse pollution.
cooling, landscaping).
Integrated Managing all resources (soil, water, Ensures holistic conservation and
Watershed vegetation) within a defined flood/drought mitigation across the
Management hydrological area (watershed). region.
Energy
Method Description Conservation Benefit
Conserves non-renewable fossil fuel
Transitioning from fossil fuels
Shift to reserves and significantly reduces
(coal, petroleum) to solar, wind,
Renewables greenhouse gas emissions and air
and hydro-power.
pollution.
Using less energy to perform the
Directly reduces consumption of
same task (e.g., using LED lights,
Energy Efficiency primary energy sources and lowers
energy-star appliances, better
operating costs.
insulation).
Promoting public transport, Reduces consumption of petroleum
Sustainable
cycling, walking, and products and lowers localized air
Transportation
electric/hybrid vehicles. pollution.
Forest
Conservation
Description Key Benefit
Method
Harvesting timber at a rate that allows the Ensures the sustained yield of
Sustainable
forest to naturally regenerate and maintain wood products without
Harvesting /
a stable ecosystem. This is a crucial aspect depleting the forest stock or
Logging
of SFM. biodiversity.
Only harvesting specific mature trees, or Minimizes disturbance to the
Selective Cutting trees of a certain size or species, while overall forest structure and
/ Logging leaving younger, healthier, or critical allows for natural forest
seed-bearing trees intact. regeneration.
A harvesting method where mature trees
are removed in a series of cuts over a Promotes the growth of
Shelterwood
period of time, allowing their shade to desired species and is less
Cutting
protect new seedlings until they are destructive than clear-cutting.
established.
Planting trees in an area that has never
Increases total forest cover
been forested or has been without forest
Afforestation and helps restore ecological
cover for a very long time (e.g., degraded
balance in barren areas.
land).
Restores the ecological
Replanting trees in areas that have been
function of cleared land
Reforestation recently logged, destroyed by fire, or
quickly and maintains the
cleared for other temporary uses.
forest base.